Spanning the State: Good Samaritan Edition

Carla Axtman

I'm a sucker for a Good Samaritan story, mostly because I harbor the (probably naive) belief that people are essentially good and given the chance will do the right thing.

To wit:

A Portland woman who was looking to buy a home is singing the praises of a citizen who found — and returned to her ... a lost envelope containing $2,000 cash and a $38,000 check.

On Friday, Jan. 10, Sharon Davis, 71, of Portland — was at the Safeway store at Southeast 122nd Avenue and Sunnyside Road in Clackamas. She was carrying an envelope that contained $2,000 in cash, a $38,000 cashier's check and paperwork for a home she was purchasing.

Unbeknowst to Davis, she lost the envelope containing the check and cash somewhere in the Safeway parking lot.

She did not become aware of the missing money until she returned to her car after getting a cup of coffee at Starbucks. The envelope had apparently slipped out from under her arm. She immediately began searching the area and frantically asking local shops if anyone had been turned in the envelope. She also contacted the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

Meanwhile, Brian Dicarlo found the envelope in the parking lot. He saw the cash inside and called 911 to report the extraordinary find — turning the envelope and its contents over to a Clackamas County Sheriff's Office deputy.

Three cheers for Brian Dicarlo!

And now, let's Span the State!

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100 students at Rock Creek Elementary School in Beaverton were sickened last week due to a reported outbreak of norovirus. Officials closed the school on Friday after close to 1/5 of the student population were experiencing symptoms of the virus. A cleaning crew was in on Saturday to completely disinfecting the entire school.

A special election is being held this March in Tigard to decide whether voters would have to approve high-capacity transit projects, including light rail and exclusive bus lanes. If it passes, voters would have the final say over the projects. In order to understand those projects however, voters would first need a price-tag, estimates of changes in housing density and road capacity. Critics of the measure say that the city would struggle to get the funding for the planning to get that information. Elected officials from throughout the area have spoken out against the measure. So have the Westside Economic Alliance, the Tigard Chamber of Commerce and the Oregon Environmental Council.

Twice in the last year, the historic Arlington Church of the Nazarene has been burned by arsonists. The second fire caused the 1890s era church structure to burn to the ground. Now, the adjacent youth building has fallen victim to vandalism. Police thus far have no firm evidence linking the incidents.

While most cities around Oregon wilted under the intensity of the recession, Prineville weathered things rather well according to The League of Oregon Cities. The State of the Cities Report says that 60% of Oregon's 242 cities/towns lack the financial resources they need to maintain service levels due to insufficient property tax revenue. Prineville saw the downturn coming and adjusted their employment levels and restructured debt when interest rates were low. Over the last four years, Prineville's general fund balance has steadily increased and in 2013 their assets exceeded liabilities by $44.6 million.

And finally, this YouTube video that takes Lake Oswego NIMBY-ism to a whole new, disturbing level.

By Carla Axtman Jan. 20, 2014